General
Q: What is the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (formerly known as The PON Clearinghouse)?
A: Teaching Negotiation Resource Center at The Program on Negotiation was founded in 1986.
The Teaching Negotiation Resource Center develops and disseminates role simulations and other interactive teaching exercises as well as books, educational videos, curricular packages, and scholarly working papers. In addition, the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center offers some materials and services free of charge such as an online access to its Negotiation Pedagogy Video Series and telephone consultations regarding pedagogical questions such as role simulation selection and course development. All Teaching Negotiation Resource Center products have been developed and/or endorsed by PON faculty or affiliates.
Q: Who may use the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center?
A: All Teaching Negotiation Resource Center products and services are available to the general public. Regular Teaching Negotiation Resource Center customers include educators from a wide range of fields and institutional levels, corporate trainers, consultants, lawyers, business leaders, and others interested in learning and/or teaching about negotiation. Because the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center attracts customers from all over the world, many of its teaching exercises are available in non-English languages.
Q: Who actually handles Teaching Negotiation Resource Center orders?
A: Teaching Negotiation Resource Center orders are handled by a professional consulting firm, the Professional Newsletter Management Service, Inc (PNMSI) in Boyds, MD.
Q: When is the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center open?
A: The Teaching Negotiation Resource Center website, www.pon.harvard.edu/store, is available for order placement 24 hours a day. The staff are available to answer the telephone and to fill orders Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. EST.
Except for the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day (January 1),
- Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January),
- President’s Day (third Monday in February),
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May),
- Independence Day (July 4),
- Labor Day (first Monday in September),
- Columbus Day (second Monday in October),
- Veterans Day (November 11, 2013),
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) and the Friday following Thanksgiving,
- Christmas Day (December 25)
Any additional closures will be posted on the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center website.
Navigating the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center Website and Selecting Resources
Q: There are so many role simulations available. How do I figure out which one I need?
A: Often, the best way to start is review the list of teaching materials by topic on the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center website. You can also use our Advanced Search Tool to search for materials based on nine different areas, including time required, complexity level, and negotiation core concepts. If after reviewing the website you are having difficulty finding an appropriate simulation for your needs, please feel free to e-mail the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center at tnrc@law.harvard.edu with a request for role simulation recommendations.
Q: I’m interested in several of your role simulations. Is there some way I can review them to decide which one would best suit my needs?
A: Yes – you may download a free watermarked review copy of any role simulation once you have created an account on the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center website. Please note that review copies are for review only, and contain prominent watermarks prohibiting duplication.
Q: Is it possible to review a book or video prior to purchase?
A: For some Teaching Negotiation Resource Center videos, preview clips are available on the video webpages. Please visit the individual webpage for the video in which you are interested to see whether a preview clip is available. Unfortunately, the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center does not have any other provisions for previewing books or videos.
Q: Why do the video prices vary so greatly?
A: Videos generally are priced according to production quality and cost. The more expensive videos have higher production values and are generally suitable for use in a classroom or training context. The less expensive videos are offered for their informational content, but tend to be less professionally produced, and tend to be more suitable for self-study or informal study. (The Negotiation Pedagogy video series is an exception – the videos in that series have high production values, but are offered at relatively low cost to encourage circulation).
Placing an Order
Q: How do I place an order through the website?
A:
Selecting items
When you have found an item you would like to order, look for the price listing or listings at the top of the webpage for that item. Enter the number of copies you would like in the Quantity (QTY) box next to the relevant price. For role simulations, case studies, or discussion exercises, specify whether you would like hard copies or soft (electronic) copies. (Please note, for role simulations, you must order the number of participant copies you intend to distribute, i.e. if you have a class of 30 students, you must order 30 participant copies.) Then click on the Add to Cart button, which will add the selected item(s) to your shopping cart. From your shopping cart, you may (1) remove or change the quantity of any item in your cart by checking the Remove box or changing the number in the Quantity box and then clicking the Update Cart button; (2) Continue Shopping by clicking on that button, or (3) Checkout by clicking on that button. If you continue shopping, simply add additional items to your shopping cart in the same manner.
Checkout:
When you are ready to checkout, click the Checkout button from your shopping cart to reach the Welcome page. If you have not already signed into the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center website, the Welcome page will offer you the choice to (1) proceed directly to checkout without signing in; (2) sign in to your existing Teaching Negotiation Resource Center account; or (3) create an account and then sign in. If you do not sign in, you will see a page entitled Shipping Information. Enter the requested information and click on Continue. If your order includes items to be physically shipped, you will come to the Shipping Information page. If your order includes only soft (electronic) copies to be delivered via e-mail, you will come to the Delivery Information page.
Shipping Information:
On the Shipping Information page, please check the shipping address listed, and click Change Address if you would like your materials sent to a different address. Next, select your preferred shipping method from the drop-down menu. Next, if you would like to request a deadline for receipt of your order, please enter it in the Date box. If you have any comments or special requests (for instance, if you would like to request a copy of a role simulation to be e-mailed to you), enter them in the Add Comments About Your Order box. Click on Continue to reach the Billing Information page or (if your order includes soft copies) the Delivery Information page.
Delivery Information
If your order includes soft (electronic) copies, you will come to the Delivery Information page. Enter the e-mail address to which you would like the soft copies delivered. The soft copies will not be delivered as attachments to an e-mail, but rather as one or more linked URLs (website addresses) within the body of an e-mail; you can click on these links to download or forward your documents. Please note that copies can only be read on a PC running Windows 7, Vista or XP, or a Macintosh running OSX 10.3 or higher. If you wish the soft copies to be delivered to the same e-mail address that you have in your contact information, check the box. You may also add any comments or special requests on this page. Click on Continue to reach the Billing Information page.
Billing Information:
On the Billing Information page, please check the billing address listed, and click Change Address if you would like a different address used for payment. Next, beneath Payment Method, click on one of the two buttons on the left-hand side of the page: Credit Card or Purchase Order. Enter the appropriate information beneath the payment method of your choice. Click on Continue to reach the Order Review page.
Order Review:
On the Order Review page, please review your order carefully, and click on the appropriate edit button if you would like to change any of the listed information. When you are satisfied with your order, click the Confirm Order button. Your order will not be processed until you click this button.
You should receive a confirmation e-mail shortly after placing your order.
Q: I’d rather not place my order online. How else can I order?
A: You may order by telephone by calling 800-258-4406 (within the United States), or 301-528-2676 (outside the United States) and requesting the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center.
Q: If I’m ordering copies of a role simulation, what should I enter in the Quantity box?
A: Whether you are ordering hard copies or soft copies, enter the number of participant copies equal to the number of people you expect to participate in the simulation. For example, if you’re teaching a class with 30 students and you would like to use a 2-party role simulation, simply order 30 copies of that simulation. For hard-copy orders, you will receive 15 copies of one role and 15 copies of the other role, for a total of 30 participants copies. For soft-copy orders, you will receive digital copies of teaching materials authorized for distribution to the amount of participant copies purchased. Every digital Teacher’s Package includes copies of all participant instructions, along with teaching notes or other instructor material if available.
Q: Many of your items are offered at different prices. Which price do I get?
A: If you are purchasing materials on behalf of a non-profit or public interest organization or an educational institution, you will receive the lower “non-profit/educational” price. If you are purchasing materials on behalf of a for-profit company or institution, you will receive the “for profit” rate.
Q: When can I expect to receive my order?
A: If you ordered materials to be physically shipped to you, your order normally will be shipping within a maximum of two business days. The length of time between the time your order is shipped and the time you receive it depends on the shipping method you select. Shipping methods range from overnight delivery to ground delivery.
If you ordered soft copies of materials to be delivered by e-mail, your order will be automatically emailed to you once payment has been confirmed.
If there is a date or time by which you must have the materials, please indicate that on the order page. So long as you have provided complete, accurate payment and shipping information, we will do our best to ensure that your materials are delivered by that date. However, we cannot guarantee delivery of physical materials within less than three business days.
Your delivery may be delayed if you do not provide complete, accurate billing and shipping information (including a valid credit card number, if you are paying by credit card).
Q: I’d like to use my credit card to order online. What security measures are in place on the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center website?
A: We use industry-standard SSL (“secure socket layer”) technology to encrypt your credit card number when you place an online order, and you order information is handled solely by our fulfillment company. If you would rather not include your credit card information with your website order, you may provide that information by telephone (800-258-4406).
Ordering Electronic Copies
Q: What is a “soft” copy?
A: A soft copy of a Teaching Negotiation Resource Center exercise is an electronic file sent via e-mail as opposed to a paper “hard” copy.
Q: Is there a price difference between hard and soft copies?
A: Soft copy orders are priced at $3 per participant at the nonprofit rate and $4 per participant at the for profit rate. Hard copy orders, due to the additional time, labor, and materials required to fulfill the order, are priced at $5 per participant at the nonprofit rate and $6 per participant at the for profit rate.
Q: What are the benefits of electronic soft copies versus hard copies?
A: The primary benefits of soft copies are that they are delivered immediately via email, are less expensive than hard copies, and that soft copies entail no shipping charges. The primary benefits of hard copies are that they require no additional time or effort to prepare them for in-person use, and that (for multiple role-simulations) they are printed on colored paper that makes it easier to distinguish the different roles.
Q: Who might want to order soft copies instead of hard copies?
A: Teaching Negotiation Resource Center customers who might prefer soft copies include those who teach online and/or distribute their course materials via e-mail or a course website; those who wish to incorporate PON materials into a course packet; those who need their materials on an urgent basis, and those (particularly outside the U.S.) for whom shipping costs might be an obstacle. Customers who plan to distribute their course materials in paper format might prefer hard copies because the hard copies arrive fully ready for use.
Q: Do I need any special software or equipment to order soft copies?
A: Soft copies are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and may be read with the free Acrobat Reader, available at Adobe. If you wish to break out or group different portions of the role simulation in digital packets, you may need the more advanced form of Adobe: Adobe Acrobat. Please note: At the present time, Teaching Negotiation Resource Center soft copies are compatible with the following versions of the Acrobat Reader: English, German, French, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Japanese and Korean. If you have a different version, you may wish to download one of these at the Adobe website, or contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center at tnrc@law.harvard.edu, 800-258-4406 (within the U.S.) or 301-528-2676 (outside the U.S.) for further assistance. This restriction does not apply to the freely available Teacher’s Package Review copies.
Soft copies will be delivered as one or more linked URLs (website addresses) within the body of an e-mail; you can click on these links to download or forward your documents. You will only have 1 week from the receipt of the links to download your materials to your computer. Please note that soft copies can only be read on a PC running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP or an Apple Macintosh running OSX 10.3 or higher.
Q: Will my firewall or e-mail security settings prevent me from receiving the electronic files?
A: Probably not, unless your email system blocks mail from unidentified senders. (If that’s the case, please contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center at tnrc@law.harvard.edu or 800-258-4406 to make special arrangements). You will not be sent an e-mail with an attachment, but rather an e-mail containing a URL (website address) which you can use to download your files. This avoids most problems with firewalls or security settings.
Q: Once I order a soft copy, will I be able to download, forward, or print it as often as I want?
A: No. Teaching Negotiation Resource Center materials are protected by U.S. copyright laws, and one soft copy must be purchased for each time that the file will be downloaded, forwarded or photocopied.
Q: Can I purchase and download soft copies 24 hours a day?
A: Yes. You can purchase and download soft copy materials 24 hours a day, as long as you are paying with a credit card and your payment is processed successfully. If you are paying via purchase order, you will need to submit your payment before receiving your materials. Once your purchase order payment has been processed, your order will be fulfilled during normal Teaching Negotiation Resource Center business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 A.M. – 5 P.M. EST).
Q: If I purchase soft copies, can I arrange to have our copy center incorporate them into a course packet?
A: Yes. Simply purchase the same number of soft copy permissions as the number of course packets into which you plan to insert the exercise. If you’re ordering 40 copies of a 2-party role simulation, you would receive a teacher’s package with 20 permissions for one party’s instructions and 20 permissions for the other party’s. In this case, you might choose to either (a) create different course packets for different students; (b) include only the general instructions for the role simulation in the course packet, if the simulation comes with them, and distribute the confidential instructions for the role simulation in the course packet, if the role simulation comes with them, and distribute the confidential instructions separately; or (c) omit the role simulation from the packet entirely.
Q: What if I have additional questions?
A: Please contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center at tnrc@law.harvard.edu or by phone at 800-258-4406 (within the U.S.) or 301-528-2676 (outside the U.S.).
After Receiving Your Order
Q: I didn’t get what I thought I ordered and/or I have questions about what I received.
A: Please contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (800-258-4406) or tnrc@law.harvard.edu) and we will be happy to answer your questions. If the item(s) you received were different from what you ordered, we will promptly send you the correct items at no additional charge.
Q: What is your return policy?
A: Because role simulations and other teaching exercises are custom-printed for each order, they may not be returned. If you are unsure whether you wish to order a role simulation, please be sure to download a review copy before placing your order.
Special Requests
Q: Do you have materials available in languages other than English?
A: While the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center books and videos are available in English only, certain role simulations are available in non-English languages, including Spanish, French, German, and others. If a particular role simulation is available in a non-English language, the available language(s) will be listed at the top of the webpage for that simulation.
If a role simulation is not listed on the website as available in your preferred language, you may contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center to inquire whether a translation is pending. In some cases, a role simulation is in the process of being translated and/or formatted for distribution and is not yet listed on the website. If a translation is not pending and you are interested in translating a simulation yourself, please contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center at tnrc@law.harvard.edu with a request for a translation license. Please note that Teaching Negotiation Resource Center materials may only be translated pursuant to a written translation license.
Q: May I have permission to reproduce PON role simulations or other PON teaching materials in a course packet?
A: You may reproduce PON role simulations, case studies, or discussion exercises in a course packet designed for one-time use with a particular group of students or participants. To do so, please order the number of soft copies equivalent to the number of course packets you plan to produce (so, if you’re having 40 course packets printed, you would order 40 soft copies of the exercise(s) you plan to include). This option works well for case studies and other exercises for which each student receives identical material.
If you are ordering role simulations, remember that most role simulations include different sets of confidential instructions for different participants. So, if you order 40 copies of a 2-party role simulation, you would receive 20 permissions for one party’s instructions and 20 permissions for the other party’s instructions. In this case, you might choose to either (a) create different course packets for different students; (b) include only the general instructions for the role simulation in the course packet, if the simulation comes with them, and distribute the confidential instructions separately; or (c) omit the role simulation from the course packet entirely.
Please note that you may not reproduce PON materials in any format intended for public distribution, such as a book, magazine, or journal, even if you purchase the appropriate number of soft copies. If you are interested in including PON materials in a compilation intended for public distribution, please contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center to discuss your request.
Q: I’d like to contribute something to the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center. Where do you get your material?
A: In general, the resources in the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center are written by PON faculty, staff, or graduate research fellows. Teaching Negotiation Resource Center books are either published by PON, or written, edited or contain substantial contributions by PON faculty, research associates or close affiliates. In some cases, the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center offers teaching exercises written by non-PON-affiliated authors and extensively tested and endorsed by a PON faculty member. If you are interested in contributing a teaching exercise to the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss the possibility of a non-exclusive distribution license. (Please note, however, that the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center does not offer author royalties).
Q: I’d like to order teaching materials suitable for use with a particular Teaching Negotiation Resource Center book, such as Getting to YES, Difficult Conversations, or Beyond Winning. What do you suggest?
A: You might start by doing a website search by author. Many authors of Teaching Negotiation Resource Center books also have contributed role simulations to the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center, and often those simulations work well with their books. If you need additional assistance, please contact the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center at 800-258-4406 or tnrc@law.harvard.edu for suggestions.
